Table assembly



1957 J. E. JONES ETAL 2,315,998

TABLE ASSEMBLY Filed Feb; 25, 19s? 7 l4" u I fln 5 I15 5 JAMES E. JONES BYEDWARD P.- STEVENS AT TORN EY United States Patent TABLE ASSEMBLY James E. Jones and Edward P. Stevens, Toledo, Ohio, assignors to The Hettrick Manufacturing Company, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application February 25, 1957, Serial No. 642,269

' 8 Claims. 01. 311-35 The present invention relates generally to a table structure and more particularly, to a knock-down table leg or supporting assembly which may be readily assembled or disassembled.

There are many instances wherein furniture is sold and delivered to a customer in knocked-down form. Also, there are many instances wherein the customer is desirous of utilizing furniture which may be easily knock-down for storage and the like. For example, many resort hotels utilize such furniture and during slack seasons such furniture is disassembled and stored. Similarly, private home owners often utilize such furniture on patios, porches and the like during months of favorable weather and are desirous of being able to store such furniture during winter or months wherein the weather is unfavorable for outdoor activity. In all such cases it is essential that such furniture or the like be readily assembled and disassembled and further, comprise a minimum of parts. Preferably, as many of the parts thereof as possible are identical or similar such that the cost of fabrication thereof is not prohibitive, and the cost of shipment or transport from the manufacturer to consumer is maintained at a minimum.

Accordingly, the object of the invention is to produce a supporting assembly for a table wherein the individual leg portions of the assembly comprise two identical mating sections capable of being assembled or disassembled with dispatch.

Another object of the invention is to produce a leg assembly comprising a minimum number of component sections which in its knocked-down form will occupy a minimum of space in package size to thereby facilitate shipment and storage of the knocked-down product.

A further object of the invention is to produce a table leg or support assembly comprised of two sections each of which maybe castin the same mold.

Still another object of the invention is to produce a table structure which may be readily and economically manufactured.

These and other objects of the invention, not specifically alluded to herein but inherent in the structure, will become readily apparent from a review of the following detailed description in light of the drawings in which:

Figure I is a perspective view of an assembled table utilizing the leg or support assembly of the instant invention,

Figure II is a partial sectional view of the leg assembly taken along line 2'2 of Figure III,

Figure III is a plan view of the reinforcing bracket showing the individual legsections properly'disposed in assembled form,

Figure IV is an exploded view of parts shown in assembled form in Figure II,

Figure V is a partial sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Figure II, and

Figure VI is a partial sectional view taken along line The assembled table structure-shownin Figure I comprises the novel features of the invention. The table comprises a top portion 10 which may be provided with a centrally disposed aperture 12 adapted to receive the standard of a lawn umbrella or the like. The top 10 is supported by a supporting leg assembly comprised of leg elements 14 and 14. The uppermost ends of the upper leg sections 14 are secured to the table top 10 by suitable fasteners 20. The other ends of the leg elements 14 are received in appropriate channels 22 formed in a reinforcing bracket 16. The uppermost ends of the lower leg elements 14' are received in appropriate channels 22' formed in the lower surface or face of the reinforcing bracket 16. The other ends of the lower leg elements 14' are adapted to rest on a floor or other suitable supporting surface.

It will be noted that the leg elements 14 and 14' are substantially identical to one another and may be cast in the same molds. Obviously, this feature adapts the entire structure for extremely economical manufacture, and further, this feature facilitates the assemblage of the parts, in that the leg elements are interchangeable thereby enabling the assemblage of the parts with considerable ease.

The reinforcing bracket 16 is formed with an annular collar 18 defining a central aperture which will register with the aperture 12 in the top portion 10' of the table. An umbrella standard may be inserted through these apertures in the event the table structure is chosen for use on open patios, porches, lawns or like areas where shading from the sun is desirable. A plurality of channels 22 extend radially outward from the annular collar 18 on one face of the bracket 16 and are adapted to receive lower portions of the leg elements 14. Similar channels 22' are formed in a like manner on the opposite face of the bracket 16 and are adapted to receive the upper portions of the leg elements 14'.

The upper and lower channels 22' and 22, respectively, have common web portions 24, these web portions being provided with generally V-shaped notches or slots 26 at their outer ends, as shown in detail in Figures III and IV.

The common web portions 24 extend inwardly from the apex or innermost edge of said V-shaped slots and terminate somewhat short of the outer surface or face of the annular collar 18, this surface, as well as the terminal edges of the web portions and the flanges of the channels 22 and 22 defining a series of generally rectangular openings closely adjacent at central annular collar 18.

Thus, in effect, there is formed about the central collar 18 a series of radially extending and angularly spaced leg receiving means into which the properly formed ends of the leg elements 14 and 14 may be interengaged, as will be described hereinafter. It will be appreciated that where four legs are to be included in the assembly, these means will be disposed at or approximately with respect to each other and that where a greater or lesser number of legs are desirable a corresponding number of means will be provided with the bracket 16' and the angular relation of these means with respect to each other will be varied accordingly.

Referring now again to Figures II and IV in particular, it may be seen that a series of ledges 28 are formed integral with the outer wall of the annular collar 18 and disposed intermediate the horizontal flanges defining the channels 22 and 22'. These ledges are oifset with respect to the described web portions 24 and, as may clearly be seen from an inspection of Figure II, are generally parallel thereto.

Inasmuch as the lower portion of the upper leg elements 14 and the upper portion of the lower leg elements 14' are substantially identical, the same reference numerals will be utilized to describe them with prime numerals indicating the lower leg elements. Each of the leg elements 14, 14' has. an end specifically configured so as to be interchangeable with the bracket 16. Since a description of one of these elements 14 or 14 will sufiice, only one such element will be described hereinafter, for example the leg element 14. A leg element will therefore include a substantially V-shaped key 30 adapted to snugly engage the V-shaped notch or slot 26 formed in web 24.

A foot-like extension 32 is formed integral with the lower portion of the leg element 14 and is adapted to engage like portion of the leg element 14 in superposed relation as shown in Figure IV. In their assembled position, both the foot-like extensions 32 and 32' are adapted to be supported on a ledge 28, as has been described.

A pair of wing-like extensions 34 are formed integral with the leg element 14 and also 14, and rest on either side of the bracket 16 and, in efiect, sandwich the bracket 16 therebetween when a leg element 14 is assembled with identical but inverted leg element 14' as will be clear in considering the exploded view of Figure IV.

Each of the leg elements 14 and 14' are provided with apertures 36 and 36, respectively, which will receive a suitable fastener, such as a threaded fastener 38. When the leg sections are properly positioned in their respective channels 22 and 22' of the bracket 16, the fastener 38 is properly inserted therethrough and are drawn tight to thereby securely maintain the various elements of the assembly in their assembled condition.

In the drawings, the various components, bracket 16 and leg elements 14, 14, are shown as including decorative embellishments. It is also to be noted that the leg elements 14-, 14' are shown as being generally tapered from end to end. The invention is not necessarily limited to such features since the principles underlying the invention could well be incorporated with relatively plain components.

It will be appreciated that the described assembly may have utility in supporting a variety of types of table tops or the like. Too, it will be appreciated that variations of the disclosed structure may be made, all of which are within the spirit and scope of the invention limited as it is only as defined in the following claims, wherein what is claimed is:

l. A knock-down table comprising a top, a dismantleable leg assembly supporting said top, said assembly including a plurality of substantially identical tapered leg elements, a bracket including a plurality of means releasably interlockable with said tapered leg elements, said leg elements being so arranged as to be in aligned vertical relation with certain of said elements being inverted with respect to certain others of said elements whereby the widest end of said tapered legs are interfitted within said means provided in said bracket and removable fastening means engageable with said bracket and said leg elements to maintain said leg assembly in assembled relation.

2. A knock-down table as defined in claim 1 wherein said bracket includes top and bottom surfaces provided with radially directed channels, said channels including means defining a recess, and the ends of said leg elements engageable with said bracket are receivable in said channels and include key means engageable with said recesses.

3. A knock-down leg assembly comprising a bracket, said bracket including top and bottom faces provided with means for receiving the ends of a plurality of substantially identical leg elements, each of said leg elements including a narrow end and a wider end, said elements being in engagement with said bracket and said means for receiving the ends of said plurality of substantially identical leg elements, certain of said leg elements being positioned such that their wider end is disposed upwardly, while certain others of said elements are positioned such that their wider ends are disposed downwardly, the narrow ends of said elements serving as feet 'and top supports respectively, and means for holding said bracket and said leg elements in assembled condition.

4. A leg assembly as defined in claim 3 wherein said means for receiving the ends of said leg elements in said bracket comprises a series of channels provided in the top and bottom faces, said channels including further tapered recesses extending through said bracket, and said leg elements each include an end insertable within said channels and provided with a tapered key engageable with said tapered slot.

5. A knock-down table comprising a top, a leg assembly removably connected with said top, said assembly comprising a bracket, a plurality of legs engageable with said bracket, said legs being comprised of a plurality of similar leg elements, each of said leg elements including an end having means engageable with said bracket, said legs being formed by attaching that end of each of said elements having said means engageable therewith to said bracket, certain of said elements being thus in inverted relation with respect to certain others of said elements such that each leg is comprised of two elements in mutually opposed relation, said bracket acting as an intermediate common connector means for said leg elements comprising said leg assembly, and means fastening said elements to said bracket.

6. A leg assembly comprising a bracket, a plurality of legs engageable with said bracket, said legs being comprised of a plurality of similar leg elements, each of said leg elements including an end having means engageable with said bracket, said legs being formed by attaching that end of each of said elements having said means engageable therewith to said bracket, certain of said elements being thus in inverted relation with respect to certain others of said elements such that each leg is comprised of two elements in mutually opposed relation, said bracket acting as an intermediate common connector means for said leg elements comprising said leg assembly, and means fastening said elements to said bracket.

7. A knock-down leg assembly for a table or the like comprising a plurality of similar leg elements, a bracket connecting said leg elements such that certain of said leg elements are in mutually opposed inverted relation with certain others of said leg elements, each of said elements including an end engageable with said bracket, said end being provided with a tapered key, said bracket including a plurality of radially extending oppositely facing channels having a common web provided with an outwardly diverging tapered slot, each of said leg elements having said end inserted within said channels and said key within said slot and means engageable with each of said leg elements and said bracket to maintain said leg elements and said bracket in assembled relation.

8. A table including a top and a knock-down leg assembly, said assembly comprising a plurality of similar leg elements, a bracket connecting said leg elements such that certain of said leg elements are in mutually opposed inverted relation with certain others of said leg elements, each of said elements including an end engageable with said bracket, said end being provided with a tapered key,

said bracket including a plurality of radially extending oppositely facing channels having a common web pro vided with an outwardly diverging tapered slot, each of said leg elements having said end inserted within said channels and said key within said slot and means engageable with each of said leg elements and said bracket to maintain said leg elements and said bracket in assembled relation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 58,995 Dinter Oct. 23, 1866 353,137 Hinkel Nov. 23, 1886 889,600 Graumiller et al. June 2, 1908 1,391,008 Richmond Sept. 20, 1921 1,936,428 Friesner Nov. 21, 1933 2,474,318 Molla 'June 28, 1949 2,560,659 Payeur July 17, 1951 

